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Lead up to Stanley Cup Final Game Three 9 June

The Stanley Cup Final shifts to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., for Game 3 tonight (8 p.m. ET on TNT, MAX, Sportsnet, TVA Sports) with the rematch between the Oilers and Panthers deadlocked 1-1. This will mark the fifth consecutive postseason that the state of Florida has hosted games in the Final. * Some of […]

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The Stanley Cup Final shifts to Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Fla., for Game 3 tonight (8 p.m. ET on TNT, MAX, Sportsnet, TVA Sports) with the rematch between the Oilers and Panthers deadlocked 1-1. This will mark the fifth consecutive postseason that the state of Florida has hosted games in the Final.

* Some of the biggest names in this series have provided noteworthy performances through two games, including Sam Bennett, who is leading the entire playoffs and the Final in goals (tied), Sergei Bobrovsky, who has made 42 saves in each of the first two contests, as well as the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, who both posted multi-point performances in each game so far.

* An annual tradition will continue in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final with four of the top prospects for the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft attending the game: Matthew Schaefer, Michael Misa, James Hagens and Jake O’Brien.

STANLEY CUP FINAL RETURNS TO FLORIDA FOR GAME 3

After the 2025 Stanley Cup Final opened with a pair of thrilling games in Edmonton, with each team winning once in extra time, the series shifts to a familiar place with Game 3 set for Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, a venue that has hosted six Final contests since 2023. The Panthers own a 4-2 record on home ice in the Final since 2023, including a 3-1 mark against the Oilers in 2024 that culminated with a Game 7 victory and the first Stanley Cup in franchise history.

* This will mark the fifth consecutive year the state of Florida hosts a Stanley Cup Final contest, with 12 total games across that span (FLA: 6 GP & TBL: 6 GP entering Game 3).

BIG NAMES HAVE DELIVERED ON THE BIG STAGE EARLY IN FINAL

Not only has the Stanley Cup Final provided edge-of-your-seat action, comebacks, overtime and memorable highlight-reel plays, but some of the biggest names in hockey have been stepping into the spotlight with noteworthy performances in the grandest of moments, including Florida’s Sam Bennett and Sergei Bobrovsky as well as Edmonton’s dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.

* Bennett enters Game 3 tied for the series lead with three goals, while he paces all skaters in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with 13 tallies overall. As the series shifts to Florida, the Panthers forward will look to extend his goal streak to four games and establish the longest run in franchise postseason history.

* The further into the season the Panthers go, the more productive Bennett becomes. He averages 0.49 points per game in the regular season, 0.73 P/GP in the playoffs and it increases even more when appearing in the Final (0.79 P/GP; 5-6—11 in 14 GP).

* Bobrovsky made 42 saves for the second straight contest in Game 2 to help the Panthers tie the series and can become the fourth goaltender on record with 40-plus stops in three consecutive playoffs games, following Craig Anderson (3 GP in 2010), Ron Tugnutt (3 GP in 2000) and Mike Palmateer (3 GP in 1983). No goaltender on record has posted 40-plus saves in three straight games during the Final.

* Bobrovsky owns a career .884 save percentage and a 3.38 goals against average through 14 games in the Stanley Cup Final, while those numbers dramatically improve to .929 and 1.84, respectively, when he plays on home ice.

* McDavid (0-5—5 in 2 GP) leads all skaters in points and assists during the 2025 Stanley Cup Final including wowing the home crowd with a highlight-reel helper in Game 2. The Oilers captain owns a career rate of 1.78 points per game in the Final (3-13—16 in 9 GP) – the fifth-highest mark in NHL history (min. 2 GP) behind Mario Lemieux (10-9—19 in 9 GP; 2.11 P/GP), Babe Dye (9-1—10 in 5 GP; 2.00 P/GP), Daniel Briere (3-9—12 in 6 GP; 2.00 P/GP) and Mark Stone (5-4—9 in 5 GP; 1.80 P/GP).

* Draisaitl did not register a goal in the 2024 Stanley Cup Final (0-3—3 in 7 GP), but the 2024-25 Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner has had a big impact through two games of this series. He scored the series-opening goal just 1:06 into Game 1 – the fastest opening goal of a Final in nearly 50 years – and completed that contest with his third overtime winner of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs to tie the NHL record for most in a single postseason.

* In Game 2, Draisaitl capped off the highest-scoring first period in a Stanley Cup Final game since 2016 with his 10th goal of the postseason – the third time in his career he has hit double digits in a single postseason. The only other active player to reach 10 postseason goals three times is Evgeni Malkin (also 3x).

* Draisaitl’s next point will mark his third career 30-point postseason. The only players in NHL history to accumulate 30 points in a single playoff year three or more times are Wayne Gretzky (6x), Mark Messier (3x) and McDavid (3x including 2025).

TOP PROSPECTS SET FOR ANNUAL VISIT TO FINAL

A tradition every year at the Final, and with the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine presented by Fanatics in the rearview mirror, the next stop for the top four ranked North American Skaters for the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft is a trip to Sunrise, Florida for Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final. Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Leon Draisaitl and Sam Bennett, the top four picks in the 2014 NHL Draft, reminisced about a similar experience when they attended the 2014 Staney Cup Final between the Kings and Rangers prior to being selected into the NHL.

* Matthew Schaefer (Erie, OHL), Michael Misa (Saginaw, OHL), James Hagens (Boston College, NCAA) and Jake O’Brien (Brantford, OHL), ranked Nos. 1-4 on NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings, respectively, will be in attendance for Monday’s game to meet some of the players, the media and soak in the atmosphere.

* Schaefer, a defenseman and the top-ranked North American skater, had a standout start to the season but missed a major portion of the 2024-25 campaign after being sidelined by an injury sustained at the 2025 World Junior Championship. He can become the first Ontario Hockey League skater to be selected first overall since Oilers forward Connor McDavid – who also played for Erie – in 2015 and the first OHL defenseman taken with the top spot since Panthers defenseman Ekblad in 2014. Click here to read more about how Schaefer is inspired by the memory of his late mother.

* A trio of dynamic forwards will join Schaefer, including Misa, who also has something in common with McDavid and Ekblad as a player who received exceptional player status to enter major junior hockey a year early. Misa is coming off a season in which he won the OHL scoring race by a 10-point margin (62-72—134 in 65 GP), recording the league’s highest single-season point total since 2006-07 (Patrick Kane had 145 points that year, while John Tavares ranked second with 134).

* Hagens, a forward at Boston College, grew up an Islanders fan as a native of Hauppauge, New York, less than 40 miles from UBS Arena. The Islanders hold the top pick in this year’s Draft. He concluded the 2024-25 season fourth in points among NCAA freshmen (11-26—37 in 37 GP) and helped Team USA earn gold at the 2025 World Junior Championship. Should Hagens be selected among the top-five picks, it would mark the first time in NHL Draft history that a top-five selection has come out of U.S. college hockey for three consecutive years.

* O’Brien finished the 2024-25 campaign tied for seventh in assists and points across the OHL (32-66—98 in 66 GP) while leading the league with 41 power-play assists. He was on the ice at hockey school as young as three years of age – his mother, Amy Turek, represented the Canadian National Team in both ice and in-line hockey, played in the National Women’s Hockey League and ran summer hockey camps where Jake got his start as the youngest player on the ice.

* All four players were featured with notes in the recently released #NHLStats Pack: Looking Ahead to the 2025 Upper Deck NHL Draft.

QUICK CLICKS

* Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Leon Draisaitl, Sam Bennett ‘brothers for life’ since 2014 NHL Draft

* Panthers must protect home-ice advantage in Stanley Cup Final

* Ryan Nugent-Hopkins expected to be a game-time decision for Game 3

* Sam Bennett jokes Brad Marchand ate Dairy Queen again before 2OT winner

* 10 things learned at the 2025 NHL Scouting Combine presented by Fanatics



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Players to Watch

The ECNL Girls National Finals are being held in Richmond, VA from July 18-21, featuring top teams in the U13-U17 age groups. After Slammers HB Køge captured the U18/19 Champions League title during the ECNL Playoffs in San Diego, the remaining Champions League winners will be crowned in Richmond. A total of 40 quarterfinalists from […]

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Players to Watch

The ECNL Girls National Finals are being held in Richmond, VA from July 18-21, featuring top teams in the U13-U17 age groups.

After Slammers HB Køge captured the U18/19 Champions League title during the ECNL Playoffs in San Diego, the remaining Champions League winners will be crowned in Richmond. A total of 40 quarterfinalists from the U13-U17 divisions – 8 in each age group – booked their trips to the ECNL Finals after some stellar performances in the group stage and Round of 16.

(+Players That Impressed: ECNL Girls Playoffs 2025)

To see the list of registered college coaches for the ECNL’s final postseason event, click here.

Ahead of the ECNL Girls National Finals, here are some players to know. Players are listed according to their graduation year.

You can also nominate a player that will be attending the event. To nominate a player for consideration, CLICK HERE.

2030

Aubrey Taylor | Midfielder
San Diego Surf 2011 (CA)

After San Diego Surf 2011 completely overpowered their first four postseason opponents, outscoring them by a margin of 17-5, they head to the ECNL Finals with the wind at their backs. One of many talented players on the roster, Taylor recently appeared at the U.S. U-14 Girls National Talent ID Camp this spring. She’s a key member of the Surf midfield which controls the game with their elite pace of play.

———————

Ella Vanstone | Goalkeeper
San Diego Surf 2011 (CA)

The pressure was mostly off for Vanstone and the San Diego Surf 2011 defense during the group stage and Round of 16, as the Surf offense piled up 17 goals over the course of 4 straight wins on their home fields. However, the ECNL Finals tend to produce big opportunities for goalkeepers to shine, and Vanstone will be one to watch as she goes up against some of the country’s best strikers.

———————

Brazil Crockett | Defender / Midfielder
So Cal Blues 2011 (CA)

Crockett and her So Cal Blues 2011 teammates churned out 4 consecutive victories during the ECNL Playoffs, outscoring them by a total margin of 13-3. After sweeping the group stage, they secured a 3-0 clean sheet win over Sting Austin in the Round of 16, booking their trip to Richmond. Crockett is a game-changing two-way player who can go from making a huge defensive stop against an opponent’s top offensive weapon, to promptly going on the attack herself.

2029

Nina Clement | Defender
FC Stars Blue 2010 (MA)

One of the nation’s premier defensive players from the Class of 2029, Clement is a member of the U.S. U-15 Girls National Team. She and her teammates on the back line were phenomenal during the ECNL Playoffs in San Diego, limiting four tough opponents to 3 total goals, and securing a clean sheet against VDA in the Round of 16.

———————

Sarah Webb | Goalkeeper
Solar SC 2011 (TX)

Webb and the Solar SC 2011 defensive unit completely dominated the competition at the ECNL Playoffs, conceding only 2 total goals over 4 games. She and the Solar back line are well-organized, rarely putting themselves in bad situations. When she does need to come up with a big save, she’s up for the task. She’s also a great distributor out of the back, with a well-rounded skillset that earned her a call-up for the U.S. U-14 Girls National Talent ID Camp.

———————

Kate Cintron | Forward / Midfielder
So Cal Blues 2011 (CA)

An attacking player with skills well beyond her years, Cintron is one of the hardest-working players in the country. She has exceptional ball control and navigates incredibly well in tight spaces, making the most out of even the smallest cracks in the defense. She’s also deadly accurate when shooting, often placing her shots perfectly inside the post. (HIGHLIGHTS)

———————

Bonnie Earl | Forward
So Cal Blues 2011 (CA)

Earl is another important member of the star-studded So Cal Blues 2011 squad which will be a strong contender for the ECNL National Championship. She was one of only 60 players called up to the U.S. U-14 Girls National Talent ID Camp this spring, and she continued to show why she’s on the USYNT radar after some more outstanding performances in the ECNL Playoffs, where So Cal Blues racked up 13 goals in 4 games.

2028


Kiyomi Yoshimura

Midfielder

This dazzling playmaker in the midfield for MVLA SC 2010 has been receiving consistent call-ups to the U.S. U-15 Girls National Team, as she’s led her team into the ECNL Quarterfinals. With Yoshimura continuously creating space, attacking on the dribble and making pinpoint passes into tight windows, MVLA was able to churn out 10 goals against some of the nation’s best defensives in the group stage and Round of 16.

———————

Gigi Zuniga | Defender / Forward
MVLA SC 2010 (CA)

Another standout with U.S. Girls National Team experience for MVLA SC 2010, Zuniga is a modern two-way athlete who can do it all, playing multiple positions at a high level. She thrives in the transition game, often forcing turnovers and turning them to quick scoring chances, with her top-end speed and playmaking instincts. Zuniga is a central piece of an MLVA side which turned in an outsanding all-around performance in San Diego, outscoring their 4 opponents by a combined margin of 10-3.

2027


Miliani Makasini

Forward

Part of an MVLA SC 2009 squad which came out on top of some closely-contested battles in the early rounds of the ECNL Playoffs, Makasini and her teammates now turn their attention to the ECNL Finals. The Class of 2027 forward / midfielder is creative with the ball at her feet and excellent in tight spaces, often making perfect final passes into the box to set up her teammates for goals.

———————

Meila Brewer | Midfielder
KC Athletics 2009 (KS)

A highly-rated professional prospect, Brewer represents the U.S. Girls National Team roster pool and she joined NWSL club KC Current’s preseason camp as a non-roster invitee. Capable of playing multiple positions, she’s one of the most dominant defensive players in the country, thanks to her world class strength and speed. Her physical skills are matched by her competitiveness, intensity, leadership and high soccer IQ.

2026


Peyton Trayer

Goalkeeper

This future North Carolina Tar Heel and U-17 USWNT roster pool member is a dominant force between the posts for Slammers HB Køge 2008. She’s tall and imposing with a 6-foot wingspan, and also extremely quick on her feet and athletic moving to either side. Trayer has all the tools of an elite goalkeeper while moving and handling the ball with the technical skills of a field player.

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Pope Leo XIV names former King’s College campus minister to Vatican position

WILKES-BARRE — King’s College President Rev. Thomas P. Looney joined other local religious leaders on Friday to celebrate the Rev. Russ McDougall, the college’s former assistant director of campus ministry. Pope Leo XIV recently appointed McDougall to serve the Vatican’s ecumenism and interfaith dialogue efforts. On July 3, McDougall was named a consultor of […]

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WILKES-BARRE — King’s College President Rev. Thomas P. Looney joined other local religious leaders on Friday to celebrate the Rev. Russ McDougall, the college’s former assistant director of campus ministry. Pope Leo XIV recently appointed McDougall to serve the Vatican’s ecumenism and interfaith dialogue efforts.

On July 3, McDougall was named a consultor of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity, which works to foster an authentic ecumenical spirit throughout the Catholic church and strengthen relationships and collaboration with other churches and ecclesial communities.

“Father Russ’ appointment to the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity is an outstanding accomplishment,” said Looney. “When he first came to us at King’s after serving as the rector of Notre Dame’s Ecumenical Institute in Tantur, he was passionate about continuing his work in building bridges across differences. His outstanding work here at King’s and in the Wyoming Valley led to a major position at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., and now in service of the Universal Church.

“I am thrilled that my brother in the Congregation of Holy Cross and member of the King’s College family has been recognized for his talents and convictions and will serve the cause of dialogue that the world so desperately needs.”

During his tenure at King’s College from 2019 through 2023, McDougall furthered the institution’s ecumenical and interfaith efforts by building relationships between local congregations and organizations. He served as a member of the Wyoming Valley Interfaith Council, convened ecumenical conversations at the College, promoted events related to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and regularly participated in worship services at local churches and synagogues.

“In his own quiet, thoughtful, and prayerful way, Father Russ has demonstrated well his capacity as an informed ecumenist, an experienced leader, and a priest committed to fulfilling Jesus’ prayer that his followers might all be one,” said the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of the Diocese of Scranton. “He has earned the respect and appreciation not only of his Catholic colleagues but of our ecumenical and inter-religious partners, particularly during unsettled and challenging times for many of our brothers and sisters of different faith traditions. He will undoubtedly serve our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and our Church well.”

“In addition to multiple meetings with rabbis, priests, ministers, imam, and laity, Father Russ developed friendships and actively participated in interfaith and ecumenical local activities,” said the Rev. Robert M. Zanicky, of the First Presbyterian Church in Wilkes-Barre. “His intellect, knowledge, wisdom, pastoral demeanor, friendliness, and compassion have placed him where he greatly benefits the Gospel of Christ.”

“Russ was a calm, bright and wise emissary of the Catholic world to the Wyoming Valley,” said Rabbi Larry Kaplan, of Temple Israel in Wilkes-Barre. “He was always engaged in the betterment of our community and was skilled in fostering conversations to bring together disparate religious groups and organizations, even during turbulent times. His calm demeanor relaxed even excited exchanges among colleagues.”

McDougall was executive director of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs. Previously, he was assistant director of campus ministry, theology faculty member, and superior of the local Holy Cross community at King’s College.

In addition to being a former rector of the University of Notre Dame’s Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem, McDougall also worked in parochial ministry at Holy Cross Parish in Nairobi, Kenya, and as formation director, academic dean, and lecturer in Old Testament at the Queen of Apostles Philosophy Centre in Jinja, Uganda.

Originally from Northwest Indiana, McDougall received his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Divinity from the University of Notre Dame and Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. He made final vows in the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1990 and was ordained a priest in 1991.



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College Sports Commission must receive work evidence for NIL deals to be approved

The NCAA is still technically in charge but the College Sports Commission (CSC) is the new sheriff in town. This recently created organization ran by former MLB executive Bryan Seeley is the enforcement arm charged with overseeing NIL Go and making sure all third-party deals meet the new “valid business purpose” protocol. One could argue […]

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The NCAA is still technically in charge but the College Sports Commission (CSC) is the new sheriff in town. This recently created organization ran by former MLB executive Bryan Seeley is the enforcement arm charged with overseeing NIL Go and making sure all third-party deals meet the new “valid business purpose” protocol.

One could argue that Seeley might now be the most powerful man in college athletics.

There was some skepticism about how this new system will work throughout the college sports industry. The revenue-sharing era officially started on July 1. We are now getting some transparency on this new approval system just over a week later after the CSC issued a memo to athletic directors this week.

Evidence will be required for any third-party NIL deal. Student-athletes must complete a service to get deals approved.

“An entity with a business purpose of providing payments or benefits to student-athletes or institutions, rather than providing goods or services to the general public,” the CSC wrote in the release. “For example, a NIL collective that has a business purpose to pay student-athletes associated with a particular school or schools does not satisfy Rule 22.1.3 when it reaches a deal with a student-athlete to make an appearance on behalf of the collective at an event even if that event is open to the general public and the collective charges an admission fee (e.g., a golf tournament).”

What does this mean exactly? It eliminates direct pay-for-play from a collective to a player. A service must be clearly proven to earn the agreed upon financial package. This goes against the previous setup where there was almost zero policing these NIL deals with school collectives. The new enforcement arm is forcing collectives to start making deals with companies so student-athletes are participating in true NIL agreements.

Ross Dellenger reports that “most deals that have not been cleared do not meet the ‘valid business purpose’ definition – many of those from collectives”.

As with almost anything in regards to NIL enforcement without the student-athletes being employees, there is doubt that this new framework will hold up. Some lawyers are already claiming that this violates NCAA Bylaw 22.1.3.

This move by the CSC was expected once the House settlement was passed. Now we will see if collectives will obey this rule or if there a loophole to be found. Some litigation is probably coming in the near future.. The revenue-sharing era is here and there will likely be some rough waters as everyone adjusts to the new rules.

Heck, we’re not even sure these new rules will hold up at this point.





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Medicaid cuts in Trump’s tax bill will ‘devastate’ access to care in rural Pennsylvania, critics say

This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown. BELLEFONTE — President Donald Trump […]

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This story was produced by the State College regional bureau of Spotlight PA, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to investigative and public-service journalism for Pennsylvania. Sign up for Talk of the Town, a weekly newsletter of local stories that dig deep, events, and more from north-central PA, at spotlightpa.org/newsletters/talkofthetown.

BELLEFONTE — President Donald Trump signed the “big, beautiful” budget bill into law last week, celebrating it as a win for taxpayers and a fulfillment of key campaign promises.

Supporters of the federal package say it reduces government spending and adds protections to programs. But in rural Pennsylvania — where hospitals operate on thin margins and Medicaid helps keep the lights on — critics warn the cuts and new requirements will burden states with paperwork, make it harder for patients to access care, and push health facilities to their breaking point.

The law cuts federal Medicaid funding by roughly $1 trillion over the next decade. It also imposes work requirements and mandates eligibility verification every six months rather than annually. Many provisions in the law, like the Medicaid funding cuts, won’t go into effect until after the 2026 election.

About 3 million people in Pennsylvania — 23% — are covered by Medicaid, according to state data. More than 737,000 Medicaid recipients live in rural counties, where residents are typically older and more reliant on government-funded insurance programs. Such programs reimburse at lower rates compared to private insurance companies and haven’t kept pace with inflation.

Nicole Stallings, president and CEO of the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, said in a statement in early July that the deep reductions will “devastate” access to care, leave hundreds of thousands without insurance coverage, and “destabilize” hospitals already struggling to keep services open.

“Our rural hospitals are financially at the brink, and so any reductions in funding could really send them over the edge,” she told Spotlight PA during a June interview. “That means a reduction in service and potential closure. That’s not just going to impact 3 million Pennsylvanians. That will impact every community around that hospital.”

Once a facility ends a service or shuts down, it rarely reopens, she added — though Sharon Regional Medical Center in rural Mercer County is a unique exception.

On average, Pennsylvania hospitals absorb a loss of 18 cents on the dollar for care provided to Medicaid patients, according to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, which represents more than 230 hospitals statewide. In rural communities, the average loss is 26 cents on the dollar.

“We didn’t just suddenly arrive at this place,” Stallings said. “Our hospitals have been chronically underfunded by Medicaid.”

That funding gap has driven many rural health systems to consolidate with other networks and expand into new areas to stabilize their finances and diversify their patient base. It’s the strategy behind Penn Highlands Healthcare — a nonprofit with nine rural hospitals — expanding into Centre County, president and CEO Steve Fontaine told state lawmakers last year.

For weeks leading up to the bill’s final passage in Congress, advocates warned that deep cuts would result in more uncompensated care because patients can’t afford to pay. The added cost would then cause hospitals and other rural health facilities to shutter core services — such as medical, dental, or behavioral health — or close.

The law earmarks $50 billion for a rural health care grant program between fiscal years 2026 and 2030, but a spokesperson for Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services, which administers the Medicaid program, told Spotlight PA those dollars won’t fill the “massive gap” created by the federal funds.

Health policy research firm KFF estimates that rural areas nationwide will lose $155 billion in federal Medicaid funding over 10 years.

The Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers — which represents facilities that provide care regardless of someone’s ability to pay — said it’s working with rural providers and state officials to determine how best to navigate the federal changes.

By 2034, the law will have caused 11.8 million more people in the United States to be without health insurance, according to estimates from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. An analysis by Princeton University’s State Health and Value Strategies program predicts almost 8.7 million people will lose their coverage nationwide, 340,000 Pennsylvanians among them.

Meanwhile, the Shapiro administration has estimated that 310,000 Pennsylvanians will lose their Medicaid coverage, also warning that the commonwealth — still without a final budget — won’t be able to cover any cuts made at the federal level.

In fiscal year 2023, the year with the most recent data, Medicaid spending in Pennsylvania totaled almost $44 billion. The federal government provided nearly $28 billion of those dollars. Estimates of how much federal Medicaid funding Pennsylvania will lose over 10 years range from $51 billion to $53 billion.

Lisa Davis, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, said one thing is certain: A surge in people losing Medicaid coverage will place significant strain on hospitals and clinics across the state — ultimately leading to poorer health outcomes in every community.

“The ripple effect across the state and across the country is going to be huge because there’s this direct correlation to having insurance and accessing care, or having a way to pay for care,” Davis told Spotlight PA.

Ned Balzer — who joined a protest outside Republican U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson’s Bellefonte office ahead of the U.S. House’s vote on the Senate’s version last week — shared concerns about the cuts and worried about what it would mean if millions of people lost their coverage.

“I don’t think that people realize how many people would be affected,” he told Spotlight PA. “And I think the people who are being affected don’t realize how they’ll be affected.”

Thompson, who has a background in health care services and represents one of the most rural districts in Pennsylvania, ultimately voted for the bill, calling it a “victory for rural America.”

“Changes to Medicaid were made to ensure the long-term stability of the program by enforcing work requirements for able-bodied adults, while preserving it for those who need it most, mothers, children, seniors, and those living with disabilities,” Kelsey Holt, Thompson’s communications director, told Spotlight PA.

U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who represents a district spanning Bucks and Montgomery Counties, was one of two GOP lawmakers who opposed the legislation. While he initially voted in favor of the package in May, Fitzpatrick said that deeper Medicaid cuts later approved by the Senate changed his mind.

“The original House language was written in a way that protected our community; the Senate amendments fell short of our standard,” he said in a statement.

SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results.

SUPPORT THIS JOURNALISM and help us reinvigorate local news in north-central Pennsylvania at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability and public-service journalism that gets results.



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Ohio Sports Hall Of Fame Will Honor 11 Former Musketeers During July Event

DAYTON, Ohio — The Ohio Sports Hall Of Fame will formally introduce 10 former Xavier University Musketeers in the 2025 induction class at its first annual banquet, which will be held at the Dayton Convention Center on Saturday, July 26. The list of 10 2025 inductees includes former soccer standouts Nick Hagglund (’14) and Amanda […]

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Ohio Sports Hall Of Fame Will Honor 11 Former Musketeers During July Event

DAYTON, Ohio — The Ohio Sports Hall Of Fame will formally introduce 10 former Xavier University Musketeers in the 2025 induction class at its first annual banquet, which will be held at the Dayton Convention Center on Saturday, July 26. The list of 10 2025 inductees includes former soccer standouts Nick Hagglund (’14) and Amanda Gruber (’98), football star Dan Abramowicz (’67) as well as basketball stars Brian Grant (’94), Amber Harris (’10), Tyrone Hill (’90), Byron Larkin (’88), Carol Madsen (’94), Ta’Shia Phillips (’11) and Romain Sato (’04). Former XU basketball coach and player Chris Mack (’93), who was a member of the 2024 class, will also be honored since this is the first year for an awards banquet and the Ohio Sports Hall of Fame will be recognizing both the 2024 and 2025 classes. For more information on the Ohio Sports Hall of Fame or the upcoming banquet and Hall of Fame weekend events, visit www.ohshof.com.
 
Dan Abramowicz (’67) was a three-year letterwinner at wide receiver for the Xavier football team and a member of the Legion of Honor. Abramowicz finished with 50 catches for 738 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior, helping Xavier to an 8-2 season. He was named to the All-Catholic All-America Team (The Brooklyn Tablet) at the conclusion of the season. Despite facing double coverage in his senior season, Abramowicz grabbed 34 passes for 585 yards and three touchdowns. The Steubenville native still holds the XU records for passes caught in a season (50 in 1965) and in a career (102), yards gained through passes caught in a career (1,470), as well as touchdown passes caught in a season (10 in 1965) and in a career (13). Upon graduation from Xavier, he was drafted by the NFL’s New Orleans Saints and went on to play wide receiver for the Saints and the San Francisco 49ers until his retirement in 1974. He was named a first-team All-Pro with the Saints in 1969, when he led the league in receptions. He caught passes in 105 consecutive games, an NFL record which stood until 1982.
 
Briant Grant (’94), native of Georgetown, Ohio, stamped his name throughout the Xavier record book, ranking as the 11th all-time leading scorer with 1,719 points and fourth on the career rebounding list with 1,080. He also set the all-time mark for offensive efficiency by posting the highest field goal percentages for a season (.654) and a career (.594). Grant is tied for fifth all-time on XU’s blocked shot list with 127 career swats. He helped the Musketeers to three postseason appearances during his Xavier career with two NCAA Tournament appearances (1991 and 1993) and one NIT appearance (1994). Grant collected MCC Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons (1992-93 and 1993-94). Entering his senior year, Grant was named a Street & Smith’s Third Team All-American. In 1994, Grant was selected eighth overall by the Sacramento Kings, the highest-ever selection among all XU players. He joined Tyrone Hill as the only NBA Draft lottery picks in Xavier history. He played 13 NBA seasons, including earning NBA All-Rookie honors in the 1994-95 season.
 
Amanda Gruber (’98) holds the school records for most goals in a season (24 in 1997) and a career (67), most points in a season (59 in 1997) and a career (160). She also stands second on XU’s all-time list for most career assists (26). Gruber became the first men’s or women’s soccer All-American when she earned NSCA Third Team All-American honors as a senior in 1997. The Cincinnati native earned a long list of other honors including 1997 Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and was a three-time A-10 First Team selection as well as a three-time A-10 All-Academic Team selection. As a rookie, she earned MCC All-Newcomer Team, MCC Second Team and MCC All-Tournament Team. Gruber helped the Musketeers reach the A-10 Finals in their first season in the league and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. As a senior, she set an A-10 record with 59 goals while leading the Musketeers to the conference semifinals and earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team. 
 
Nick Hagglund (’14) enjoyed the most decorated career in Xavier soccer history. The Cincinnati native was a two-time conference defensive player of the year and was part of 31 shutouts as the leader of the Musketeer defense through his four years in the program. Hagglund led Xavier to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearances with three straight in 2010, 2011 and 2012 while the Musketeers picked up their first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 2012. At the conclusion of his junior year, he earned NSCAA All-America Second Team honors as well as College Soccer News All-America Third Team honors, becoming the first XU player to earn NSCAA honors. In Xavier’s first season in the BIG EAST, Hagglund earned the 2013 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year awards as well as a spot on the All-BIG East First Team and the NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team. He was the 10th overall pick by Toronto FC in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and went on to win the 2017 MLS Cup with the squad. He was acquired by FC Cincinnati in 2019 and has been a key veteran for FCC since his acquisition.
 
Amber Harris (’10) was drafted fourth in the 2011 WNBA Draft and is the highest draft pick in program history. The three-time All-Atlantic 10 First Team honoree and the 2009-10 A-10 Player of the Year is the second all-time leading scorer at XU with 2,205 career points. Harris became the first Musketeer to be honored as a State Farm All-American by the WBCA in 2009-10 and repeated in 2010-11. She also earned mention as a Second Team All-American in 2011 and Third Team All-American in 2010 by the Associated Press. Harris is the all-time blocked shot leader with 361 and ranks second all-time with 1,226 rebounds to become only the second Musketeer to surpass the 2,000-point, 1,000-rebound mark. She was a member of the All-Tournament Team in all four of her appearances in the Atlantic 10 Championship and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2010 A-10 Championship. She finished her Xavier career a perfect 12-0 all-time in A-10 Tournament games, leading XU to four championships in five years. Harris, who was forced to sit out the entire 2008-09 season due to injury, was a playing member of four NCAA Tournament appearances, including XU’s second NCAA Elite Eight appearance in 2010. Harris was drafted fourth overall by the Minnesota Lynx in 2011 and won a pair of championships with the team in 2011 and 2013.
 
Tyrone Hill (’90) was the first XU alum to ever be selected as an NBA Draft “lottery pick” and the first alum to ever earn NBA All-Star honors. Hill was a four-year starter, helping Xavier average 23.5 wins during his four-year career. Xavier compiled a 94-34 (.734) record including three MCC Tournament Championships, four NCAA Tournament berths, two MCC Regular Season Championships and XU’s first-ever berth in the NCAA Sweet 16. He was a freshman starter on the 1987 team that captured Xavier’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. As a sophomore he led the team to 26 wins, a then-school record, and another trip to the NCAA Tournament. As a junior, Hill was the 1989 MCC Tournament MVP and led the Musketeers to a third straight NCAA Tournament. The Cincinnati native led XU to a school record 28 victories as a senior and a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament where the Musketeers defeated Kansas State and Georgetown to reach the school’s first-ever NCAA Sweet 16. Hill is Xavier’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,380 and fifth on the career scoring chart with 2,003 points. Hill, who was drafted in the first round of the 1990 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors, played 14 NBA seasons. 
 
Byron Larkin (’88), long-time Xavier radio analyst, is the all-time leading scorer in Xavier basketball history. The Cincinnati native had an immediate impact on Xavier basketball, starting every single game after starring in the first seven games of his freshman season. Larkin led XU to three MCC Tournament Championships, being named MVP of each one. He also led the Musketeers to two MCC Regular Season Championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including XU’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in 1987 behind a 29-point effort from Larkin. During his four years, Xavier went 86-35 (71.1 %), including two of the top 10 seasons for wins in Xavier history in 1985-86 (25-5) and 1987-88 (26-4). Larkin accumulated multiple honors throughout his Xavier career including two MCC Player of the Year Awards, 1988 AP Third Team All-America honors, 1988 UPI and Scripps Howard Second Team All-America selections and claimed a spot on the 1987 U.S. Pan Am Team. He finished his Xavier career with 2,696 points and is still among the top 30 on the NCAA Division I all-time scoring chart. 
 
Chris Mack (’93), the all-time winningest coach for Xavier basketball, also played for the Musketeers and is the current head coach at the College of Charleston. The Cincinnati native, a two-time team captain as a player, won an MCC Regular Season Championship and reached the second round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament. Mack was named the 17th head coach of Xavier basketball on April 15, 2009, after five seasons as an assistant on Sean Miller’s staff. In nine seasons as the head coach, Mack compiled a 215-97 record (.689) with eight NCAA Tournament appearances, four Sweet 16 appearances and a trip to the Elite Eight in 2017. His teams won or shared three conference regular season championships while compiling a 105-49 league record over nine seasons in the BIG EAST and Atlantic 10. Mack became Xavier’s first-ever national coach of the year after being named the 2015-16 Henry Iba Award winner as the USBWA National Coach of the Year as well as the CBS Sports and Basketball Times National Coach of the Year. In his final season with the Musketeers, Mack was named the BIG EAST Coach of the Year and led Xavier to its highest national poll ranking at No. 3 in the final 2018 AP Poll and the first NCAA Tournament No. 1 seed in school history. 
 
Carol Madsen (’94) was a two-time MCC Player of the Year and the 1993 MCC Tournament MVP. Madsen held multiple school records at the time of her graduation including most points in a game (46 vs. La Salle, 1994), most assists in a season (212, 1993-94) and most career assists (518). Her 46-point single game record still stands to this day. She is tied for the individual record of single-game 3-pointers with nine against Indiana State in 1992 and previously held the record for most three-pointers in a single season and career. Madsen ranks seventh on XU’s all-time scoring chart with 1,702 career points. The Cincinnati native was a three-time MCC First Team selection and was selected the 1993 MCC Tournament MVP after scoring a record 70 points in three games, leading Xavier to an MCC Championship and its first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Ta’Shia Phillips (’11) is XU’s all-time leading rebounder with 1,552 career boards. She was a two-time Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year and the 2008-09 A-10 Player of the Year. Phillips was selected as a 2010 and 2011 State Farm Honorable Mention All-American by the WBCA. She finished her senior year second in the country in rebounding (12.4 rpg) and third in field goal percentage (.605). The 6-foot-6 center notched 77 career double-doubles and scored in double-figures 103 out of 131 career games played. Phillips led the league in rebounds per game in all four of her seasons, earning a spot on the Atlantic 10 All-Defensive Team for three consecutive seasons. She was honored as a three-time Atlantic-10 First Team honoree and an All-District I pick by the WBCA in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Phillips led Xavier to the 2010 Elite Eight run that came up just short of the Final Four in a heartbreaking 55-53 loss to Stanford in the Regional Final. XU made four NCAA Tournaments during Phillips’ career (2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011) and averaged 27.0 wins during Phillips’ career. Phillips was selected eighth overall in the 2011 WNBA Draft to become the second highest draft pick in program history.

Romain Sato (’04), a native of the Central African Republic, played high school basketball in Dayton before coming to Xavier. Sato helped Xavier reach the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons, including the NCAA Second Round twice and XU’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2004. Xavier won two A-10 Regular Season Championships and two A-10 Conference Tournament Championships during his career. Sato was named to the five-member All-Regional Team for the 2004 NCAA Tournament Atlanta Regional after scoring 18.3 ppg and grabbing 7.3 rpg. He was also named a 2003-04 AP Honorable Mention All-American and 2003-04 NABC All-District 10 First Team. His long list of honors also included First Team All-Atlantic 10 Conference twice and A-10 Conference All-Defensive Team three times. Sato is fourth on Xavier’s all-time scoring list with 2,005 points and eighth on the all-time rebounding list with 892 rebounds. He holds the school record for career three-point field goals made (307) including the top two single game displays in XU history. Following his Xavier career, Sato was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft. He enjoyed a tremendously successful career in pro basketball in Europe, earning his induction into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2024. 
 
 

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Williams hopes to put his NHL experience to good use

Jack Williams sat in front of a room of reporters with a grin on his face. It was a championship grin – after all, he’d just hoisted a trophy. A two-time Beanpot winner, Williams had a new prize to add his collection on Saturday. “First one,” Williams said. “It’s good to get that win.” This […]

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July 11, 2025

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Jack Williams sat in front of a room of reporters with a grin on his face. It was a championship grin – after all, he’d just hoisted a trophy.

A two-time Beanpot winner, Williams had a new prize to add his collection on Saturday.

“First one,” Williams said. “It’s good to get that win.”

This one, though, didn’t come at TD Garden, a place Williams has seen plenty of success. It came in the OhioHealth Ice Haus in Columbus, as Williams’ three goals in the Stinger Cup lifted Team Cross to a dominant 6-0 win over Team Donskov to wrap up the Blue Jackets’ 2025 development camp presented by Bread Financial.

Williams went undrafted and was signed by Columbus as a free agent in March after three years of college hockey at Northeastern. Last week was the center’s first development camp as a Blue Jacket.

He had a pretty unique perspective, though – he’s practiced at the Ice Haus before, gotten dinner with Boone Jenner and Jack Johnson, and was on the ice when the cannon sounded at Nationwide Arena.

Within a few days of signing with Columbus, Williams was leaving Northeastern and joining the Blue Jackets for the NHL stretch run. Williams had a front row seat to the Blue Jackets’ playoff push, and he was a sponge, absorbing every last morsel of what it means to be a professional.

“It was awesome just seeing the way that the guys operated,” Williams said. “They showed me the ropes. They kind of helped me out whenever there were questions, and it was great to get to know the staff and everybody here. It was an awesome experience.”

At the end of it all, Williams’ time with the team was capped off with his first NHL game, as he skated more than 11 minutes in the season finale April 17 in a 6-1 win over the New York Islanders at Nationwide Arena.

“It was surreal,” said Williams, who was the only player at development camp with NHL experience. “Playing your first NHL game is obviously something you dream of. And luckily enough, I found out that morning that my parents were able to make it out in time. It was just a super special night.”

Then, in a blink of an eye, it was done. One moment, Williams was making his NHL debut. The next, it was the offseason.

After getting a taste of the NHL, the former Northeastern captain is tackling his summer training with a chip on his shoulder and a slight edge in experience.

“I’m definitely hungry for more,” Williams said. “To get a feel for what the speed was like, what the strength was like, and what a game feels like at that level was really special. And I think it’s a little bit of an upper hand. I know what I need to work on and what needs to be done in the offseason.”

New England Roots

Williams grew up in Biddeford, Maine, a small city just south of Portland near the coast. When he debuted for the Blue Jackets, he became just the eight player from his home state ever to skate in the NHL.

Before captaining Northeastern or signing with Columbus, Williams attended the Maine prep school Berwick Academy for one year and spent the next two at South Kent School in Kent, Connecticut. He was pulled out of New England for the 2019-20 season, joining the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL, where he’d stay for three full seasons.

When the call came ringing to head back east, Williams jumped on it.

“Northeastern was a special place for me,” Williams said. “I committed there when I was pretty young, and there is just so much history and culture at that school. And I’m so proud that I was able to go there, and very honored to be able to wear the ‘C’ there.”

In his three seasons at Northeastern, Williams’ Huskies just missed out on NCAA tournament berths. They failed to advance further than the Hockey East quarterfinals in his first two seasons, but went on a miraculous run down the stretch this past season that led them to Hockey East championship weekend.

The Huskies might not have been able to get over the hump in the Hockey East playoffs or the NCAA tournament. But Williams knows a thing – or two – about winning. Northeastern won five Beanpot tournaments in six seasons, and Williams was part of two of those championship squads in the famed Boston-only in-season tournament.

“So special,” Williams said of those two championships. “It’s four teams where anybody can win it every year. It’s such a fun night (and) fun tournament.”

This season, Northeastern fell short of a third consecutive Beanpot title. The Huskies experienced a dip in performance as the team dealt with the consequences of having a young group – Williams was a junior captain, and four of the five assistant captains were also juniors.

Still, the Huskies upset top-seeded Boston College in the Hockey East quarterfinals before experiencing a heartbreaking double-overtime loss to Maine, the eventual league champion, in the semifinal at TD Garden in Boston.

A Natural Leader

A freshman at Northeastern – and a 2022 Blue Jackets draft pick – had a front-row seat to witness what Williams meant to the Huskies.

“I think everyone in Columbus should be excited about a player like that,” said James Fisher, who got to share the ice with Williams once again at development camp last week. “He led our team this year through thick and thin. We had some low points, we had some highs, and he was always a great teammate. He was great to me as a first-year guy at Northeastern, and he showed me the ropes.”

Fisher had glowing things to say about his captain, who led Northeastern with 41 points in his junior campaign. Williams’ offensive flair was on full display at the Stinger Cup, where he chipped in on the score sheet in all kinds of ways – most notably, driving to the net.

Williams measures in at 5-11, meaning he’s not going to be the tallest guy on the ice. But his relentless pressure on the forecheck and ability to drive to the dirty areas separates his game from the rest of the pack.

“You watch him on the ice, he’s going to be the hardest worker out there,” Fisher said. “In practice, to go against him one-on-one, he’s going to do everything he can to outwork you.”

“I like to play fast. I like to drive the pace forechecking, I think it’s a big part of my game,” Williams said. “For me, just finding pucks loose around the net and the crease is a big objective of mine.”

That scrappiness and drive is what enticed Columbus to sign the undrafted free agent at the end of his college season. Of those eight players from Maine to skate in the NHL, Williams was just the third to debut after going undrafted.

“I think it just gives me a lot of confidence knowing that I can play at that level,” Williams said. “I’ve just been playing with confidence and that hunger in the offseason so far.”

After getting his shot in the NHL, Williams was ready to put in the work to get back there. It was a no-brainer for him to return to the place he credits for making him the player he is today – for the first half of the summer, Williams worked with strength and conditioning coach Dan Boothby in the weight room at Northeastern.

Northeastern is not like Boston College or Boston University, both blue bloods in college hockey with long and rich histories, or even Harvard, a longstanding powerhouse in the ECAC.

“It’s a school where you kind of earn everything that you get,” Williams said. “I think I’m a really good example of that. You can start on the fourth line, but by the time you’re a sophomore, junior, senior, you work your way up.”

Williams is a tangible example of just that. His excitement and eagerness to get back to the NHL is palpable, practically radiating off of him as he fielded questions after his hat trick in the Stinger Cup.

“I saw how hard he worked throughout the year,” Fisher said. “Watching him play that game at the end of the year was special. It put a smile on my face. I was so happy for him.”

Williams will move to Montreal to train with a friend of his before his first NHL training camp. It’s been a year of “firsts” for the forward, which for some might be daunting.

But if there’s anyone that can handle a little pressure or adversity, it’s Williams.

“He worked toward that goal every single day this year,” Fisher said. “It’s just a special thing to see a guy like that (get rewarded) – an undrafted guy who wasn’t really given anything, who had to work for everything. It goes to show him as a person and as a player and his work ethic. It’s special.”

As Williams left Columbus to continue his offseason work, he has a goal in mind. While it’s possible or maybe even likely he begins the season in the AHL as he gets his feet under him at the pro level, like every player, his goal is to make the Blue Jackets have to make a tough decision once training camp begins.

“Honestly, my mentality is just coming into training camp, working as hard as I can and trying to win a spot,” Williams said. “But just showing everybody – all the staff and all the players – what I can do.”



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